Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini Tuesday announced the seizure of 73 guns and the charges against 14 people linked to the Bloods gang. Three of the charged are from Huntington Station.
The 127 counts of illegal gun sales and related charges could put several of the suspects in prison for lengthy terms, Sini said.
“These are 73 guns that never made it onto the streets of Suffolk County,” Sini said, crediting Suffolk police units, the AFT and others from multiple agencies who worked in what he called “an extremely complex and dangerous operation” that began in September 2018 and concluded last month. “These are firearms that don’t belong here,” he said.
Ten of the 14 have been arrested and arraigned; warrants are out on the remaining four.
The Huntington Station men are:
Tavon Pascal, 22, charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; and four counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, an E felony. Pascal was arraigned on Oct. 7 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Pascal faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.
Jasmine Sexton, 37, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 10 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 11 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. Sexton was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found to be a persistent felony offender.
Matthew Edwards, 52, of Huntington Station, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; nine counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. Edwards was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. Jones was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Edwards faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found to be a persistent felony offender.
The serial numbers had been erased on several weapons, Sini said, making them more difficult to trace. But the most of the sales started with purchases by straw buyers, who then sold them to others, who transported them to New York where they were sold to people who could not otherwise legally buy them, he said.
Of the 73 weapons recovered, 62 were handguns and 11 were rifles and shotguns; 13 of the weapons were assault weapons, including AR-15s, AK-47s, and AK-47 style pistols; 48 of the weapons were loaded at the time of the sale and 36 of the weapons were sold along with high-capacity magazines; 22 of the weapons were previously reported stolen; and six of the weapons had their serial numbers defaced.
The ATF traced most of the sales to three states, Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina before transport to New York, in what Sini called the Iron Pipeline.
“When these weapons find their way into the wrong hands, there can be deadly consequences,” Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. “I am proud of the work of this law enforcement team in bringing down this major gun trafficking organization. I believe that we prevented crimes from being committed using these weapons. This investigation sends a strong message to our communities of our continued commitment to keep these illegal weapons off our streets,” commending Suffolk police officers who worked on the arrests.
While emphasizing the importance of the operation, SIni said he was under no illusion that the seizures were the end of the illegal gun problem. “It’s an important case and delivered an important blow but we know there are more. It’s not the end of sales.”
Others charged are:
Curtis Bostic, 28, of Hempstead, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 12 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 13 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. Bostic was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Bostic faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Scott Brown, 25, of Middle Island, is charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony. Brown was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Brown faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Leroy Jones, 31, of Deer Park, is charged with three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; three counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; three counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 30 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 39 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; 22 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; and five counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. If convicted of the top count, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found to be a persistent felony offender.
Ed Lariviere, 24, of Bellport, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony. Lariviere was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Lariviere faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.
Shannon McKeever, 31, of Patchogue, is charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. McKeever was arraigned on Oct. 10 and bail was set at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, McKeever faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Damar Parler, 35, of Lynchburg, Virginia, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; six counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, an A misdemeanor. Parler was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Parler faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Tameeka Stevens, 35, of Lynchburg, Virginia, is charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; Criminal Purchase or Disposal of a Weapon, a D felony; Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, an A misdemeanor. Stevens was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Stevens faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter Giattino, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.
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